Camera attachment



April 7, 1942. D. MACKINTOSH CAMERA ATTACHMENT Filed Sept. 12, 1940 gwue/wfob MacZ i 72 Z 0 71/ 1 7 A M/ N Patented Apr. 7, 1942 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAMERA ATTACHMENT Donald Mackintosh, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 4 Application September 12, 1940, Serialblo. 356,542

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a camera attachment, and it is an object of the invention to provide an attachment'of this kind which in addition to effecting desired exposure also serves as a me dium to produce an expression, such as that of interest, on the face of the person being photographed. 7

It is also an object of the invention to provide an attachment of this kind including an inflatable body having associated therewith means operating upon deflation of such'body to eiiect the desired exposure of the camera.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrange ment of the several parts of my improved camera attachment whereby certain important advantages are'attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating a camera attachment posed therethrough a pipe I. This pipe 1 has constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, the stretchable wall of the container being expanded and the coacting end portion of the camera cable being diagrammatically indicated by broken lines;

Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, the coact- 5 ing end portion of the camera cable being also diagrammatically indicated by broken lines.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, I denotes a body of wood or other desired material. This body, as herein disclosed, is cylindrical in form although it may have such other configuration as preferred. One end portion of the body I is operatively connected, as at 2, with the stretchable wall W of a closed container and which wall is adapted to readily expand or dilate upon pressure of air therein. The body I to one side of its center is provided with a port 3 extending partially therethrough from its inner or connected end to a desired distance spaced from' the opposite end of the body I. The outer end of the port 3 is continued by a laterally directed port 4. This port 4 opens out through the side of the body I and associated with this port 4 is a nipple or mouth piece 5. By blowing through the mouth piece 5 a person may readily cause the one end substantially flush with the inner end face of the body I while the opposite end portion of the pipe extends a desired distance beyond the opposite end face of the body I. Substantially snugly insertible through this pipe I is an elongated plunger 8. This plunger 8 is of a diameter less than the internal diameter of the pipe I to provide escape of air within the container out through the pipe I. The plunger 8 is of such lengthas to extend a material distance within the container. and the extremity of the plunger 8 within the container is-provided with an enlarged head 9 herein disclosed as having its outer face convex. This plunger 8 is readily held against endwise movement and in a desired selective adjustment with respect to the inner end of the body I through the medium of a set or binding screw I0 threading through the wall of the pipe I at a point beyond the outer face of the body I. The outer end portion of the pipe I beyond the outer end face of the body I is split for a desired distance to allow for the provision of a substantially fiat elongated plate II. The

outer end portion of this plate II is formed to provide transversely disposed arms I2 between which is adapted to be received the usual cable of a camera in which operates the Bowden wire. These arms I2 serve to support the outer portion of the camera cable to bring the button at the outer end of the wire in proper position to be contacted by the plunger 8 when said plunger is moved outwardly in order to effect the desired exposure of the camera.

A leaf spring I4 is carried by the plate II adjacent to the arms I2 to provide a means for effecting desired holding of the cable from the camera. I

In the present embodiment of my invention, the body I has secured thereto a flexible member I5 provided at its outer end with a hook I6; This member I5 and hook I6 provide means whereby the attachment may be supported as desired upon the camera or from any other preferred support. It is to be understood, however, that other means may be used for maintaining the attachment in desired position.

The attachment as herein disclosed is particularly intended for use in connection with a camera when on a tripod or other stationary support. After proper focusing of the camera the wall W of the container is expanded or dilated by blowing air within the container through the nipple or mouth piece 5 after the plunger 8 has been moved a desired distance within the container. During the inflating operation the set screw ll) may be sufliciently tightened with respect to the plunger 8 to hold the plunger in desired selective adjustment. After the desired inflation of the container, the attachment is suitably mounted upon the camera or other support and the person to be photographed is told to watch the container. time is to be sufliciently retracted to allow the plunger 8 to be moved outwardly through the body I after suflicient air within the container has escaped out through the pipe 1 to permit such contraction of the wall W to move the plunger 8 outwardly and into proper contact with the head or button of the operating wire extending through the cable of the camera.

It is found in practice that by the use of this attachment the person being photographed as a result of watching the container assumes a distinct expression as of interest thus assuring a good picture. V

The head 9 at the inserted end of the plunger 8 is provided to assure effective contact of the contracting wall W with the plunger 8.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a camera attachment constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility-with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of'some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limit- The set screw H! at this ing myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in' practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A camera attachment of the class described comprising a body, a receptacle carried thereby having a stretchable wall, means to allow for the inflation and deflation of the receptacle, an elongated plunger freely passing through the body into the receptacle, the wall of the receptacle upon contraction as a result of deflation contacting with said plunger to move the same outwardly.

2. A camera attachment of the class described comprising a body, a receptacle carried thereby having a stretchable wall, means to allow for the inflation and deflation of the receptacle, an elongated plunger freely passing through the body into the receptacle, the wall of the receptacle upon contraction as a result of deflation contacting with said plunger to move the same outwardly, and means for holding the plunger against movement through the body.

3. A camera attachmentof the class described comprising a body, a receptacle having a stretchable wall secured to the body, said body having an inflation port in communication with the receptacle, a non-return valve coacting with such port, said body having an opening therethrough from end to end, a plunger extending within the receptacle through said opening, said plunger being of a diameter less than the diameter of the opening to provide means for the escape of air within the receptacle, the wall of the container upon contraction, occurring upon deflation of the receptacle, contacting with the inserted end of the plunger and moving the plunger outwardly through the body.

DONALD MACKINTOSH. 

